You walk into my shop. I hand you cold tea. I ask one thing.
“Where you wearing this, boss?”
Choosing Suit Fabric in Chiang Mai: Real Talk from a Tailor Who Still Works the Scissors
That’s it. Not what color. Not how many buttons. Just where you’re going in it. That tells me everything. You don’t need trends or charts. You need cloth that matches your day.
Chiang Mai heat isn’t polite. You step outside and it hits your back like a furnace. Then you walk into a café and the air-con hits like ice. Cheap fabric won’t keep up. What I give you will.
Here’s how I break it down. No theory. Just what works.
Tropical Wool
If you don’t know what to pick, I’ll hand you this first. Tropical wool is light, clean, and built for our weather. It holds its shape, breathes well, and won’t wrinkle when you sit down for fifteen minutes. You can wear it to the airport, the meeting, and the dinner. It will still look sharp.
I stock Super 110s and 120s. That means the thread is fine enough to feel smooth but strong enough to last. Anything higher is a luxury gamble. Looks nice once. Fails quick. I don’t cut suits that die in a week.
If you need one suit to carry your whole trip, this is the one.
Linen
You want cool? This is the king. Linen is light, honest, and perfect for the hot season. March to May, you wear wool and suffer. You wear linen and float.
It wrinkles, yes. That’s not a flaw. That’s its look. Pressed linen doesn’t make sense. If you hate the deep wrinkles, I’ll show you a linen-cotton blend. It softens the edges but keeps the breathability.
Linen is for beach weddings, summer photos, afternoon walks, and confidence. You wear it like you don’t care who’s looking. That’s why it works.
Cotton
Cotton is fine. Comfortable. Easy to wear. But you have to respect the season. In November or December, when the air is dry and cool, a cotton blazer with rolled sleeves looks sharp. But wear it during the rain or heat, and you’ll feel like you’re dragging a wet towel.
I use cotton for casual jackets. Smart pieces. Not full suits. Cotton holds moisture and wrinkles just fast enough to ruin a good day. Most of the time, I’ll steer you back to tropical wool. It wears cleaner and lasts longer.
But if you’re walking night markets in cool weather, cotton still earns its place.
Thai Silk
Silk is for moments. You don’t wear it to blend in. You wear it to be remembered.
The color, the shine, the texture. Thai silk catches light and holds attention. When I cut it right, it doesn’t just hang. It moves. It speaks.
But silk is delicate. Not made for sweat or chaos. You wear it when you’re clean, rested, and ready to be seen. If you want that look with more muscle, I’ll show you a silk-wool blend. Same shine. Better spine.
I’ve made dinner jackets in that blend that outshone the venue. You’ll feel it when you wear it.
Still Unsure? Come In and Touch It
You won’t know what you like until you feel it. Cloth is physical. You touch the grain, hold it to the light, fold it in your hands. That tells you more than any blog ever will.
Come in. I’ll pour you tea and pull the books. I’ll ask where you’re going, what the weather’s like, how you want to feel when you walk in. Then I’ll show you what fits that answer.
“Where you wearing this, boss?”
That’s the start. I handle the rest.
📍 Keck Custom Tailor
4/1 Banbenchapharn, Samlarn Rd, Chiang Mai
📞 +66 80 130 9170
🕗 Open 8AM to 9PM, seven days a week
💬 Walk-ins welcome. Appointments optional.
You want something that fits, breathes, and turns heads. I got you, boss.
